THE League of Filipino Students in northern Mindanao yesterday sharply criticized Mayor Oscar Moreno for favoring the extension of martial law in Mindanao.
In light of the recent bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, Moreno said the martial law under Duterte is very much different from the martial law of Marcos. He even raised a question regarding to those who were arrested without a warrant of arrest.
“Mayor Oscar Moreno is clearly dreaming wide awake regarding the human rights situation of Mindanao in relation to the declaration of martial law,” said Kristine Cabardo, chairperson of LFS in the region in a statement sent to this paper. “We remind Moreno that his statement itself is a sanction for state forces to continue its abuses and human rights violations in the island of Mindanao and in Cagayan de Oro City itself.”
Cabardo cited the case of the so-called “Gensan13” who were allegedly subjected to illegal arrest and whose belongings were allegedly seized illegally.
That, she said, was “a blatant manifestation and abuse of martial law.”
Majority of those arrested were residents of Cagayan de Oro and human rights workers for different people’s organizations.
Cabardo added, “We have the Lumad bakwit from Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental who have been staying in the city of Cagayan de Oro for the past three months due to heavy militarization and encampment in their community. If these incidents are not suppressive enough, there are the cases of illegal arrest during his implementation of the Oplan Tambay and, of course, the anti-drug campaign which clearly targets innocent civilians and small time peddlers.”
Cabardo added: “Mayor Moreno, if martial law okay with you? Try living with the bakwit and experience being displaced from your comfortable ivory tower. Try speaking up and standing up for your rights with a gun pointed in your head.”
The LFS said no justification could be comprehend for the implementation of martial law and even the slight hint of its extension.
“We call on all peace-loving Filipinos in saying that martial law is not the solution. Let us all unite against fascism and dictatorship. Address the root cause of the problem,” she said.
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